The Zahrbock Funeral Home announces the death of Marion Maatz, who passed away on January 22nd at Northridge Nursing Home in Ortonville, MN. Funeral Services for Marion will be held on Saturday, January 28th at Trinity Lutheran Church Walter Township of rural Bellingham at 2 pm. Reverend Thaine Kister will officiate at the service. Special music to be provided by Ginger Drobny, organist and Paul Maatz, soloist. Honorary pallbearers will be the Trinity Ladies Aid and Bellingham Legion Auxiliary of Kanthak-Matthies Post 441. Active bearers are Greg Streich, Greg Richards, Adam Maatz, Austin Maatz, Landon Maatz, John Maatz and Jacob Maatz. Visitation will be Friday, January 27th at Zahrbock Funeral Home in Madison from 5 until 7 pm. Interment will be at the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery of rural Bellingham. Marion Geneva (Richards) Maatz was born on May 9, 1928 to parents John and Florence (Nelson) Richards in rural Grant County Minnesota near Herman. She was baptized and confirmed at the Herman United Methodist Church on April 13, 1941. She attended country school in District 46 for eight years and graduated from Herman High School in 1946. Marion attended college in Jamestown, ND for a year. She then transferred to Macalester in St. Paul graduating in 1950 with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology. She taught Biology and Girls Phy. Ed. in Zumbrota, MN and Ortonville, MN. Marion was united in marriage to Walter Maatz June 17, 1955 at the Methodist Church in Herman, MN. Walter and Marion were blessed with four children. They made their home on a farm west of Bellingham. She was glad to be able to be a homemaker and a stay at home mom. After her marriage she joined Trinity Lutheran Church, Walter Township. She was very active in the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML), serving on the District, Regional Zone and Society levels. Marion taught the nursery Sunday School class for 26 years. She maintained a lifelong friendship with fellow teachers she met while working in Ortonville. Marion also enjoyed the friends she made through a local Homemaker’s group, Birthday Club, Cookie Exchange, neighborhood birthdays, Christian Women’s Club and at Fairway View. Marion and Walter enjoyed many trips throughout the United States and abroad. She especially enjoyed trips to visit family and friends. Fishing was a shared pastime with Walter. He liked to joke she always caught the largest and the most fish. Playing cards, especially pinochle was a favorite activity. Her homemade buns were delicious and the grandchildren loved to eat them warm with butter and honey. Marion was a prolific letter writer. She loved writing and receiving letters. Marion is survived by her four children: Richard and Dawn Maatz of Bellingham, Duane and Patty Maatz of Fargo, ND, Kathleen and Barry Long of Bellingham, Mona Maatz of Maple Grove, MN; grandchildren: Tarah Cavett, John Maatz, Kali Connor, Austin Maatz, Kara Maatz, Landon Maatz, and Jacob Maatz; great grandchildren Porter Cavett and Nolan Maatz. Also surviving are two sisters Mayva Boranian of Edina, MN, and Joan Peterson and Ken Nelson of Salida, CO; brothers Bob and Carol Richards of Herman, MN and Dick and Marge Richards of Wahkon, MN. Sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, Marilyn Streich of Ortonville, Ruth Maatz of Edina and Paul and Pamela Maatz of Bemidji. She was preceded in death by her husband Walter Maatz, her parents John Richards and Florence Nelson Richards Davis, step-father Earl Davis, a son and two daughters in infancy, sisters and brothers: Destia Heine Johnson, Marjorie Kivi, Phyllis Webb, Darlene Finley, Cecil Richards, and Howard Richards. Funeral Service: Saturday, January 28, 2017 2:00 PM Funeral Services for Marion will be held on Saturday, January 28th at Trinity Lutheran Church Walter Township of rural Bellingham at 2 pm. Reverend Thaine Kister will officiate at the service. Special music to be provided by Ginger Drobny, organist and Paul Maatz, soloist. Honorary pallbearers will be the Trinity Ladies Aid and Bellingham Legion Auxiliary of Kanthak-Matthies Post 441. Active bearers are Greg Streich, Greg Richards, Adam Maatz, Austin Maatz, Landon Maatz, John Maatz and Jacob Maatz. Visitation will be Friday, January 27th at Zahrbock Funeral Home in Madison from 5 until 7 pm.